Sunday Considerations: His Own

Now before the Feast of the Passover,
when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father,
having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
(John 13:1, ESV)

Beloved, you are “His own,” now, because you have yielded yourselves to Him. You delight to think that you are His. There is no greater joy to you than to feel that you belong to Christ! The fact that you are truly Christ’s is the fountain of innumerable pleasures and blessings to your heart! Jesus calls us, “His own”—His own sheep, His own disciples, His own friends, His own brethren, the members of His body! What a title for us to wear, “His own”! I have heard of some who have felt it an honor to be called, “The Devil’s Own.” I trust that you have escaped from such a title as that and now you are Christ’s own. How many regiments have felt pleasure in being called, the King’s Own, the Queen’s Own, the Prince’s Own! Oh, but we are HIS OWN! He owns us! He calls us, “His own.” Thus He distinguishes us from the rest of mankind and sets us apart unto Himself. “My name shall be named on them,” He says. We are “His own.” Surely, this is the highest honor that can be put upon us even in the Last Great Day. “They shall be Mine, says the Lord of Hosts, is that day when I make up My jewels.”

Now I trust we can say that we desire to serve Christ in our vocation. I feel happy to be among the favored few whose vocation it is to serve Christ, those who are permitted to spend all their time and all their strength in that dear service. We are, “His own,” but so are you, “His own,” if you believe in Him. You, also, are Christ’s own, up in an attic. Christ’s own at the washtub. Christ’s own in the fields at the plow. Christ’s own making the hay. I am not wandering from my subject when I say this, for Christ has “His own” among all these classes! “His own” were fishermen. “His own” cast the net into the Sea of Galilee. “His own” drew it to shore. “His own” were the poor of this world. His own, His very own, His choicest and His best friends and followers, were just such! They were unlearned and ignorant men, yet they were “His own.” So the Apostle says, “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confuse the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confuse the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yes, and things which are not, to bring to nothing things that are: that no flesh should glory in His Presence.”

Oh, the wondrous sovereignty of Divine Love! I trust that there are some here, tonight, who Christ calls “His own” although they do not yet know that it is so! Bought with His blood and they are not aware of it? Chosen before the foundation of the world and yet they have not discovered it? May the Lord reveal to you His everlasting love and help you to make your calling and election sure from this time forth!1

Mark Lamprecht on hereiblog.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.